Psychological health and safety in legal workplaces
Everyone in Western Australia has the right to work in a psychologically safe and inclusive environment – and the legal profession is no exception.
Work health and safety laws require all employers to manage risks, including those related to psychosocial hazards. For legal workplaces, however, it can sometimes be challenging to know where to begin.
To help, we’ve gathered a selection of resources and information tailored for WA practitioners. These are grouped into:
- General workplace support; and
- Specific areas of focus such as vicarious trauma, bullying, sexual harassment, and equal opportunity in the law.
Creating psychologically safe legal workplaces
Preparing your workplace to manage risks — including psychosocial hazards — is not just a legal obligation, it is essential to creating a safe, healthy and sustainable work environment.
In legal workplaces, hazards such as bullying, harassment, excessive workloads or exposure to traumatic material can impact staff wellbeing, work quality, productivity, and the broader reputation of the profession.
Proactive measures reduce risks and ensure compliance with work health and safety laws. Preparation also means having systems and policies that promote fairness, respect and inclusion, and equipping practitioners and staff with the knowledge and tools to recognise risks early and respond effectively.
A safe workplace culture benefits individuals, strengthens team performance, improves client service, and upholds the standing of the legal profession.
The following resources provide practical guidance and information to assist WA practitioners to take meaningful steps towards a fair, safe, and inclusive legal workplace.
Resources and guidelines
- Fair, safe and inclusive legal workplaces – Guidelines for the employment of law clerks, graduates and lawyers, Law Society of Western Australia
- Know your rights: Law graduates and junior legal practitioners’ pay and working conditions, Law Society of Western Australia
- Towards dignity and respect at work: an exploration of work behaviours in a professional environment, Edith Cowan University and Law Society of Western Australia
- Preventing and responding to workplace bullying, WorkSafe WA
Workplace education and training support
Past Brief articles
Understanding and managing vicarious trauma in legal workplaces
Vicarious trauma is a significant but often overlooked risk in the legal profession. It arises when practitioners are repeatedly exposed to the trauma of their clients, leading to emotional and psychological strain. Unlike ordinary workplace stress, it develops gradually through ongoing exposure, rather than a single event, and can result in anxiety, depression, burnout, or post-traumatic stress if left unmanaged.
Not everyone is affected in the same way. Those with unresolved personal trauma, existing mental health challenges, or demanding professional circumstances—such as heavy caseloads or limited workplace support—are at greater risk. Recognising these factors allows workplaces to better identify and protect vulnerable staff.
Because vicarious trauma is an ongoing risk in legal workplaces (for lawyers and supporting professionals), it is essential to address it proactively. Raising awareness and offering practical support are key steps.
We have compiled a list of resources that have been developed specifically with and for the legal profession to assist WA legal practices to manage and reduce vicarious trauma for healthier and more sustainable legal working environments.
Resources
- Literature review: strategies to address vicarious trauma in the legal profession
- Managing vicarious trauma in the legal profession – A comprehensive guide
- Self-care booklet – Vicarious trauma
- The role of employers in preventing vicarious trauma in law, Law Society of NSW journal article
- Short videos – What is trauma? (for lawyers), The impacts of trauma (animation), Trauma-informed lawyering from Law Access
Bullying and harassment in the legal workplace
All members of the legal profession have the right to be treated with fairness, dignity and respect.
Employers have a responsibility to ensure legal workplaces are free from discrimination, harassment and bullying. To achieve this, legal practices should establish clear policies, promote positive workplace behaviours, and respond to complaints promptly and effectively.
We have compiled the following resources to help WA legal practitioners and professionals know how to report concerns about workplace bullying and harassment and to assist legal practices develop workplace policies and procedures that support education, prevention, and effective responses to workplace bullying and harassment.
Reporting harassment, discrimination or bullying in a WA legal setting
The Legal Practice Board of Western Australia provides an anonymous online tool to report harassment, discrimination or bullying by a lawyer or someone in a legal setting.
Resources
Bullying and harassment
- Law Council of Australia information – Bullying and harassment in the workplace
Judicial bullying
Sexual harassment: Law Society’s cultural change framework
Since 2022, employers in Western Australia have had a new positive duty to eliminate discrimination, sexual harassment and victimisation in the workplace to better protect workers from sexual harassment and other forms of sex discrimination, harassment, and unfair treatment in the workplace. In order to satisfy the duty it is recommended employers adopt a number of measures including regular training and education.
To help the profession address these issues, we have created a framework called Change the Culture.
Resources
Equality, diversity and inclusion
The Australian legal profession is committed to promoting diversity, inclusion, equality and respect, consistent with the principles of justice, integrity, equity and excellence on which it is founded.
We recognise that equality, diversity and inclusion benefit the profession, the community, and the economy as a whole.
In embracing equality, diversity and inclusion, we acknowledge the unique position of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia, holding a special place in the nation’s history.
In line with the Law Council of Australia’s diversity and equality charter the Law Society will:
- treat all people with respect and dignity regardless of sex, sexuality, disability, age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture or other arbitrary feature;
- create and foster equality through a supportive and understanding environment for all individuals to realise their maximum potential regardless of difference;
- promote and support a strong and fair legal profession comprising, accommodating, encouraging and respecting a diverse range of individuals and views.
Resources
Law Society of Western Australia
- Advancement of women in the legal profession working group – Report to Council
- Final directions: Law Society’s response to Women Lawyers of Western Australia’s 20th anniversary review of 1994 Chief Justice’s Gender Bias Taskforce Review
Law Council of Australia
